Like all other speed skating events at this Olympics the competition was held for the only time in packstyle format, having all competitors skate at the same time. This was the common style in North America and gave the runners from the United States and Canada a major advantage over the European rivals.

After both heats the referee Joseph K. Savage from the United States referred the matter to the three technical delegates. Herbert J. Clarke from Great Britain, Water Jakobsson from Finland, and Hermann Kleeberg from Germany decided at their meeting to have both heats reskated, and in fairness to all concerned all the original starters were allowed to compete the following morning.

Both reskated heats were held on the morning of Saturday, February 6, 1932.